Career breaks are a common part of many women’s lives.
Whether stepping away to raise children, care for ageing parents, or support family responsibilities, these decisions are often deeply valuable. However, because Australia’s superannuation system is built on regular contributions linked to employment income, time away from the workforce can slow the growth of retirement savings.
Fewer years of contributions mean less opportunity for investment growth and compounding over time. This is one reason women often retire with lower super balances than men.
According to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, women aged 60–64 have around 25% less superannuation than men on average.
Recent policy changes are helping to address this imbalance. From 1 July 2025, superannuation is paid on Commonwealth Paid Parental Leave, a change designed to help reduce the long-term impact of time away from work.
However, there are also practical steps individuals can take to strengthen their super position.
According to Lin Carey, Financial Adviser at Halpin Wealth, understanding the impact early can make a meaningful difference.
“Career breaks are often an important part of life, but many people underestimate how they affect superannuation,” Lin says.
“The good news is that with the right strategy, there are several ways to rebuild momentum once you return to work.”
1. Restart contributions as early as possible
Once income resumes, restarting regular super contributions can help get retirement savings back on track. Even modest contributions can make a meaningful difference over time, thanks to the power of compounding investment returns.
2. Consider additional concessional contributions
Making extra concessional contributions through salary sacrifice or personal deductible contributions can help accelerate super growth. These contributions are made from pre-tax income and can be a tax-effective way to rebuild balances.
3. Use spouse contribution strategies
Where one partner has a higher income, contributing to the other partner’s super can help maintain momentum during periods when one person’s earnings are lower or temporarily paused. This approach can also provide potential tax benefits, depending on individual circumstances.
4. Review contribution opportunities later in your career
The carry-forward contribution rules allow eligible individuals to use unused concessional contribution caps from previous years. For people who return to full-time work later in their careers, this can create an opportunity to make larger contributions and strengthen retirement savings.
Career breaks are often an important and rewarding part of life. With the right planning and advice, they do not have to compromise long-term financial security.
Strengthen your super strategy
If you have taken time away from the workforce or expect to in the future, reviewing your superannuation strategy can help you stay on track for retirement. A Halpin adviser can help identify opportunities such as additional contributions or spouse strategies to support stronger long-term outcomes.
This information provided in this article is general advice only and has been prepared without taking into account your own objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making a financial decision based on this advice, you must consider whether it is appropriate in light of your own needs, objectives, and financial circumstances, and where relevant, obtain personal financial, taxation or legal advice. Where a financial product has been mentioned, you should obtain and read a copy of the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) prior to making any decisions about whether to acquire a product.